Questions about the EM spectrum, being able to view parts of it we can't see,and blackbody radiation?
I’m a person who has always been highly interested in imaging systems of every time- and Something I have always wondered about is this:
I understand we aren’t the Predators , however, current technology allows us to image in several different methods. From sound to light.
In direct regard to the EM spectrum, why is the abilitity to image not utilized more often?
In a few airports we have PASSIVE Milimeter wave imagers which will image a person based on the microwaves they emit. I had not been aware humans really emitted that much energy outside of their peak at about 7 um if i recall correctly, (in between Mid and far Infrared)…
I suspect I know the answer, but why is it that humans do emit a discernable, amount of energy in that part of the spectrum right after the Far Infrared border?
Would it be possible to image even further beyond? For example- since it can be done – instead of building active radar "imaging" systems and scanning arrays and such(Pretty much what RADARS are)- why aren’t more attempts made to read in/iamge natural radiation?
I also wonder about the other side of the spectrum. I’m aware that at a certain point the UV spectrum is limited severly by air(at some unknown but well publicized wavelength, Ultraviolet light is heavily absorbed by normal air)- but there’s very little Ultraviolet imaging used outside of minor things. You don’t see image intensification devices trying to read mid-UV, they prefer near-Infrared with a active source…
I can only find ONE UV imager company selling 2 products
http://www.uvcorder.com/index.html
And lets not stop there:
Xrays-the atmosphere and electromagnetic fields of the Earth severly hamper background radiation-but some miniscule amount DOES come through- Now Perhaps there’s a whole boatload of other problems when trying to make a powerful image based off of radiation such as this(Indeed this would be cost prohibitive)-yet since a extremely small amount does get through- why not pursue trying to build a image off of this radiation? Understandably it’s a longshot, someone could describe this as the idea of attempting to mimic Superman’s passive Xray Vision-but between image intensification, and the advances within the past 30 years…
And there WOULD be uses for it
Random Question #2: IF I an understanding Planck’s Law as it applies , humans emit a certain amount of energy at a peak- then that curve drops off.
However, does it ever truly reach Zero on both sides? Or if a camera was made that could amplify light/intensify light in say the visible or UV part of the spectrum, attempted to intensify it to a extreme degree- would we be able to see the visible or UV light that humans emit, if there’s any to be found?
Question #3.
The concept that everything emits in the mid/far infrared regions, slightly less in the far infrared/microwave region, and then in near nfrared if you heat it up, Visible light(incadescence) if you heat it up some more…and so on..
Is this a rule of thumb that has no exceptions?
——- the mad rantings of someone who wonders what would happen if we pursue to no end the ability to replicate what Our eyes can do, except with waves and energy that we cannot naturally see.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmic_ray
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news… (the comments on this site cite several critical concepts such as Planck’s law that allow this)
http://www.orau.org/academic/collaborati…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terahertz_r…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermal_ima…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_body
I’m well aware that there’s a lot of uses in space
Hint:I’m a physics major as well.
however, Shouldn’t an attempt be made to use the other regions of the EM spectrum for other purpuses?
For example- the BP oil Spill- Oil is easier to see in many parts of the spectrum RATHER than visible lightt. And that helps with cleanign it up
The military could make good use of imaging in UV- and they DO make use of Thermal imaging and light intensification.
Sure, there’s uses when imaging interstellar radiation and objects, thats common knowledge. but space isn’t the only place we can make use of this, no?
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